Risk-Sharing News

g n i r a h S k s i R

SDML Workers’ Compensation Fund Expands Stryker Grant Program for 2020

For 10 years the SDMLWorkers’Compensation Fund has offered two grant programs to its members, the Stryker EMSgrantprogramandtheStanHoustonICS®Sawgrant program. In 2019, the Board of Trustees approved $5,000 for a third grant program. The Trenching and Confined Space Entry Safety Equipment Grant was created to assist members with the purchase of approved safety equipment such as trench boxes, hydraulic shoring, gas detectors (with and without calibration kits), full body harness, tripods and blowers.

Because these grant programs promote safety for our members, the SDMLWorkers’Compensation Fund Board ofTrusteesapprovedallthreegrantprogramsforthe2020 year on a first come first serve basis until the grant funds are exhausted. The 2020 grant period will open and applications will be accepted beginning January 1, 2020.

Trenching and Confined Space Entry Safety Equipment Grant

Thisisa50-50matchinggrantwithamaximumof$1,000 pergrant.Amembermayapplyoncepercalendaryearand the grant only applies to one piece of equipment. The member may purchase the equipment from a vendor of their choice, but prior to a grant being awarded, Safety Benefits, Inc. will review the requested equipment to verify that it meets all current standards for its intended purpose. If you would like to inquire about the eligibility and pre-approval of the equipment prior to completing an application, please contact the SDML WC Fund Administrator, Insurance Benefits, Inc. Congratulations to the 2019 grant recipients:

• Huron • Yankton • Java Rural Fire Protection District

Stryker EMS Equipment Grant

The Stryker EMS grant program includes a 60/40 matching grant to assist our members in purchasing a StrykerPower-PRO™ambulancecotoraStrykerStairPRO® stair chair. The Stryker Power-LOAD™ system is also available and set up to pay 33% of the list price.

The intent of this grant program is to provide a safer workplace for the EMT’s, firefighters, police officers, and alllocalgovernmentemployeesthatassisttheirambulance services to provide emergency transfer of patients. These three products have been proven to reduce and eliminate back injuries due to lifting patients. We have 1 member that prior to purchasing a Stryker Power-PRO™ ambulance cot, had 10 lifting injuries over a 7 year period resulting in over $150,000 in medical and lost-time expense. Since being awarded a grant in 2011, this member has not had a single lifting injury with over 16,000 patient transfers.

Stryker also reported a 100% reduction in back injuries in another service and a 62% decrease in the risk of developing a low back disorder when using these safety products during the loading process. Other relevant stats are:

• 69% of the US adult population is obese • Atypical strain injury cost $70,408 in direct and indirect costs • The average age of an EMS worker is 40 years old • Lower back strain is the cause of 78% of compensation days in the US • 1 of 4 EMS workers suffer from a career-ending back injury within the first four years of employment • Lifting causes more than 70% of back injuries of

EMTs

StrykerEMShasusedtheSDMLWCFundgrantprogram as a model of success and has rolled out similar programs in several other states.

Over the past 10 years the SDMLWC Fund has awarded 93 grants to our members that total over $228,000. Congratulations to the 2019 grant recipients listed below:

• City of Menno/MennoAmbulance • City of Faith/FaithAmbulance Service • North Sioux City FD/DakotaValley Fire District • Garretson CommunityAmbulance • Iroquois Fire & Rescue District • Moody CountyAmbulance-Flandreau • Marshall CountyAmbulance-Britton • Clark CountyAmbulance-Clark

Stan Houston ICS® Saw Grant

This grant program is a 50-50 matching grant to assist

members with the purchase of an ICS® Saw Package. The ICS® saw is beneficial in reducing the risk of injury during activities that require the use of a chop saw, particularly to cut and repair broken water pipes in a confined space. Thirty-four grants and over $39,000 have been awarded to our members. Congratulation to the 34 grant recipients listed below:

• Beresford • Box Elder • Buffalo • Burke • Colman • Custer • Deadwood • Dell Rapids • Edgemont • Elk Point • Faulkton • Flandreau • Gregory • Groton • Huron • Lead • Marion • Mission • Mitchell • New Underwood • Onida • Parker • Parkston • Philip • Pierre • Redfield • Rosholt • Sturgis • Wagner • Watertown • Webster • Woonsocket • Winner • Yankton

Eligibility for these grants is very simple. The applicant must be a member of the SDMLWC Fund as of the date of the grant application and in the year the grant is awarded. Also, the member must meet several selection criteria, including compliance with Loss Control Safety Improvement Recommendations for every department. The complete list of selection criteria is available on the application.

The SDML Workers’ Compensation Fund has always stressed the importance of using safety equipment and following safety procedures. There are many components toasuccessfulsafetyprogram.Creatingacultureofsafety begins with leadership direction and support which then flows to the supervisors and employees. It only takes one motivated person to change the culture of your entity. We look forward to more participation in these programs and the reduction of injuries to your employees.

These grant programs continue to be very popular. As of the date this article was written, there are still grant funds available for the current 2019 grant year. If you are consideringapplyingforagrant,weencourageyoutosend your application ASAP before the grant funds are exhausted.

If you have any questions or would like an application, please contact Brad Wilson, Ladene Bachtell or Gary Drewes at Insurance Benefits, Inc. Email: info@sdmlwcfund.com or Phone: 800-233-9073. The 2019 application will also available on our website at www.sdmlwcfund.com.